What makes a diabetic brittle?
Brittle diabetes is a term that is sometimes used to describe hard-to-control diabetes (also called labile diabetes). It is characterized by wide variations or “swings” in blood glucose (sugar) in which blood glucose levels can quickly move from too high (hyperglycemia) to too low ( hypoglycemia ).
Is brittle diabetes fatal?
Brittle diabetes itself isn’t fatal, and in most cases you and your doctor can manage it successfully. However, severe changes in blood sugar can lead to hospitalization because of the risk of diabetic coma. Also, over time, this condition can lead to other complications, such as: thyroid disease.
What is the life expectancy of a brittle diabetic?
The investigators found that men with type 1 diabetes had an average life expectancy of about 66 years, compared with 77 years among men without it. Women with type 1 diabetes had an average life expectancy of about 68 years, compared with 81 years for those without the disease, the study found.
Is brittle diabetes a disability?
The short answer is “Yes.” Under most laws, diabetes is a protected as a disability. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are protected as disabilities.
Is brittle diabetes reversible?
Brittle diabetes is less common in people over 40 years of age which suggests that brittle diabetes may, in some cases, resolve itself in time.
Who gets brittle diabetes?
Who might get brittle diabetes? Brittle diabetes occurs most often in people with Type 1 diabetes (in Type 1, the body does not produce insulin). For reasons not fully understood, it’s most common in women in their 20s and 30s.
Can brittle diabetes be reversed?
At least half of those diagnosed with brittle diabetes can be reverted to a “stable type 1 condition,” he insists.
Will diabetes shorten my life?
Dec. 1, 2010 — Diabetes cuts about 8.5 years off the life span of the average 50-year-old compared to a 50-year-old without diabetes, new research indicates. The study also shows that older adults with diabetes have a lower life expectancy at every age compared to people who do not have the disease.
What is the average lifespan of someone with type 2 diabetes?
A 55-year-old male with type 2 diabetes could expect to live for another 13.2–21.1 years, while the general expectancy would be another 24.7 years. A 75-year-old male with the disease might expect to live for another 4.3–9.6 years, compared with the general expectancy of another 10 years.
How do I know if my diabetes is getting worse?
See your doctor right away if you get:
- Tingling, pain, or numbness in your hands or feet.
- Stomach problems like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- A lot of bladder infections or trouble emptying your bladder.
- Problems getting or keeping an erection.
- Dizzy or lightheaded.
What are long term complications of brittle diabetes?
If blood sugar is not managed well, the outlook for people with brittle diabetes is poor, involving: Complications, such as problems with the eyes, kidneys, heart and nerves. Frequent hospitalizations. Low quality of life.
How is brittle diabetes related to type 1 diabetes?
Brittle diabetes can be very hard to control. Brittle diabetes mellitus (or labile diabetes) is a term used to describe particularly hard to control type 1 diabetes. Those people who have brittle diabetes are more likely to experience frequent, extreme swings in blood glucose levels, causing hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
Why are some diamonds more brittle than others?
Durability is a different thing altogether. Many gems have cleavage planes and diamonds certainly do. A diamond can split along these planes (this is how cutters turn one big diamond into smaller ones.) Inclusions can also weaken a diamond and leave it more susceptible to breakage.
What kind of diabetes is hard to control?
Brittle Diabetes (Labile Diabetes) Brittle diabetes mellitus (or labile diabetes) is a term used to describe particularly hard to control type 1 diabetes.
What kind of diabetes causes swings in blood sugar?
Brittle diabetes is a severe form of diabetes. Also called labile diabetes, this condition causes unpredictable swings in blood sugar (glucose) levels.